WELDING CURRENT
WELDING CURRENT IS proportional to electrode feed rate
for a specific electrode diameter, composition, and electrode
extension. The relationship between electrode feed
rate and welding current for typical mild steel gas shielded
electrodes, self-shielded mild steel electrodes, and selfshielded
stainless steel electrodes are presented in Figures
5.14,5.15, and 5.16 respectively. A constant voltage power
source of the proper size is used to melt the electrode at a
rate that maintains the preset output voltage (arc length). If
the other welding variables are held constant for a given
diameter of elecerodc, changing the welding current will
have the following major effects: